City Council - Regular Meeting

City of Bellingham City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 16, 2024, 7:00 PM Mayor: Kimberley Lund Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Daniel Hammill, Edwin H. “Skip” Williams, Lisa Anderson, https://cob.org/council Michael Lilliquist and Jace Cotton Call to Order The City Council Regular meeting was called to order by Council President Hammill at 7:00pm. Announcements & Upcoming Meetings: Bellingham City Council meets all requirements of the State of Washington Open Public Meetings Act. 1. Land Acknowledgement Statement Before we begin, we acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Lummi, Nooksack, Samish and Semiahmoo People who have cared for and tended this land since time immemorial. Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth. We pay respect to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events. 2. Language Access The Bellingham City Council provides Spanish interpretation at all regular evening meetings. Interpretation can be accessed by in-person attendees by utilizing the headsets located at the front of the room. Remote viewers can log on to cob.org/cczoom and click on the "Language" icon at the bottom of the screen to listen in Spanish. Roll Call Present: Council President Daniel Hammill, Third Ward Council Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Council Member Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Council Member Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Fourth Ward Council Member Lisa Anderson, Fifth Ward Council Member Michael Lilliquist, Sixth Ward Council Member Jace Cotton, At-Large Mayor's Report Standing time for briefings, updates, and reports to Council by the Mayor. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 1 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes 24232 1. Mayor's Appointment to the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual p. 6 and Domestic Violence (Information) Mayor Lund appointed Annie Taylor to her first partial term on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence, which will expire on January 31, 2025. 24233 2. Mayor's Appointments to the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission p. 14 (Information) Mayor Lund made the following appointments to the Neighborhood Advisory Commission: • Robin Thomas as the Sehome Neighborhood Primary Representative to her first partial term, which will expire on June 21, 2026 • Jan Dietzgen as the Fairhaven Neighborhood Primary Representative to her first full term, which will expire on October 18, 2026 • Jessica Orr as the South Neighborhood Primary Representative to her first partial term, which will expire on August 16, 2025. Mayor Lund expressed gratitude that the City Council will vote to ratify a new Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Labor Agreement tonight. Mayor Lund shared that the City is working with businesses to alter current outdoor structures located on Holly Street and is reviewing the bike lane pilot. The administration will return to Council later this fall with program updates. Mayor Lund emphasized the importance of the City's downtown corridor to the community. A new Downtown Forward progress report is available online and all are invited to attend a Downtown Forward Celebration on September 19th. Mayor Lund provided recruitment updates including the hiring of the Strategic Initiatives Manager - Health & Human Services position. The City has also received several bids to assist in the recruitment of the Human Resource Director and Public Works Director positions. The HR Director position will be prioritized. Mayor Lund encouraged the community to participate in City Advisory Boards. Learn more and apply online. Mayor Lund reiterated remarks made during the Committee of the Whole meeting of the City's work to address unauthorized encampments. For the full remarks, see the committee video and learn more online about the City's actions and resources. Mayor Lund highlighted that September 14-22 is Whatcom Water Week and there are many educational and volunteer opportunities. Learn more online. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 2 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes Regular Meeting and Committee Sessions The following are heard in both Committee sessions and Regular Meeting in order below: Council Standing Committee Meetings: Public Works and Natural Resources 1:00 PM Hannah Stone, Chair Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist 24234 1. Bellingham Wetland Mitigation Bank Update p. 21 Joel Pfundt, Interim Public Works Director, Renee LaCroix, Assistant PW Director of Natural Resources, and Analiese Burns, Habitat and Restoration Manager, provided an update on the creation of a wetland mitigation bank. The goals of the mitigation bank are to improve the success of wetland and stream mitigation projects, achieve regional restoration goals, address temporal loss of aquatic resource functions, address mitigation needs for public and private developers, and streamline the mitigation process. Staff will return in the first quarter of 2025 for discussion and approval of an enabling ordinance for the bank. Council Members discussed the program and asked questions. Committee Of The Whole 1:30 PM Daniel Hammill, Chair Hannah Stone, Hollie Huthman, Edwin H. "Skip" Williams, Lisa Anderson, Michael Lilliquist, Jace Cotton 24235 1. An Ordinance Establishing a Shelter Protection Area Immediately Adjacent to the p. 37 Way Station Located at 1500 N State Street within which Certain Activities that Adversely Affect the Operations and Residents of the Way Station and the Adjacent Area are Prohibited in Public Spaces Mayor Lund, Alan Marriner, City Attorney, Blake Lyon, Planning & Community Development Director, and Deputy Police Chief Almer, presented the draft ordinance which modifies the shelter protection area around the future Way Station at 1500 N State Street. Steen Brochner-Nielsen, Facilities Manager at Unity Care Northwest, and Marisa Schoeppach, Homeless Outreach Team Coordinator at the Opportunity Council, spoke in support of the ordinance. After the Way Station is complete, services to unhoused individuals and families will be provided in partnership by Unity Care NW, the Opportunity Council, and PeaceHealth. Services include medical and behavioral health services, restrooms, shower and laundry services, case management, and a medical respite program. Past Shelter Protection Areas established around interim housing facilities in the City increased safety for clients and reduced negative behaviors and impacts such as debris, disorderly conduct, and property damage. Council Members discussed the ordinance and asked questions. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved for first and second reading the ordinance as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 3 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes 24236 2. A Resolution Opposing the Proposed Merger of Albertsons and Kroger p. 45 Council Member Cotton presented the draft resolution opposing the proposed merger between Albertsons and Kroger. The resolution would formally oppose the merger and transmit copies of the resolution to the Federal Trade Commission, Washington State Attorney General, and the CEOs of Kroger and Albertsons. Daniel Hammill / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved final approval of Resolution #2024-22 as amended during the Committee of the Whole meeting. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Old/New Business There were no discussion items for Old/New Business. Council President Hammill encouraged the public to listen into the Committee of the Whole Old/New Business discussions. Executive Session 1:50 PM Closed to the public. Report in the Regular Meeting only: 1. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 2. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition. For information and discussion. No action taken. 3. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition totaling 4 acres with one potential development unit. Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Michael Lilliquist moved to authorize the Mayor to close the real estate transaction described in the City’s executed purchase and sale agreement with the property owners, Annette and Gloria Schenck and Sandy Collman, with a purchase price of $340,000 and with closing to occur on or around September 27, 2024. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Potential Property Acquisition (Stamps, approx. 5 min) Staff provided information on a potential Lake Whatcom Watershed property acquisition totaling 40.79 acres with one potential development unit. City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 4 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes  Edwin H. "Skip" Williams / Hollie Huthman moved to authorize the Mayor to close the real estate transaction described in the City’s executed purchase and sale agreement with the property owners, Dennis and Maureen Handel, with a purchase price of $205,000 and with closing to occur on or around October 4, 2024. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 5. Labor Relations: Discuss Collective Bargaining Strategy (Beatty, approx. 5 min.) Staff provided information on a labor relations matter. For information and discussion. No action taken. 6. Labor Relations: Review contract proposal for the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 (Beatty, approx. 10 min.) Staff provided information on the proposed 2023-2024 collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937. Lisa Anderson / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved to ratify the agreement reached with the following general terms: DURATION: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025. WAGES AND COMPENSATION: • Effective January 1, 2024: 4% COLA • Effective January 1, 2024: Reallocate positions in salary grades 1-4 up by one salary grade • Effective January 1, 2025: 3% COLA • Effective January 1, 2025: $1.00 market adjustment applied to each step • Effective January 1, 2025: increase deferred compensation match to 2% MEDICAL INSURANCE: • Increase the City’s contribution to Medical Health Care by 6% each year. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Consent Agenda All matters listed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and/or non-controversial items and may be approved in a single motion. A member of the Council may ask that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. 24237 1. 2023 STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to be Used in 2024 p. 48 24238 2. Sub-Recipient Agreement; Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, & What-Comm p. 77 Communications Center Contract Number C2401002 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 5 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes 24239 3. Authorization of Payroll Labor Cost Payments Dated August 1, 2024 to August 15, p. 97 2024 24240 4. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 16, 2024 through August 22, 2024 p. 98 24241 5. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 23, 2024 through August 29, 2024 p. 99 24242 6. Authorization of A/P Transactions Issued August 30, 2024 through September 05, p. 100 2024 24243 7. Approval of the 8/2/24 Growth Management Coordination Special City Council p. 101 Meeting Minutes 24244 8. Approval of the 8/5/24 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Regarding the City Fiber p. 104 Network Comprehensive Plan 24245 9. Approval of the 8/26/24 City Council Committee and Regular Meeting Minutes p. 107 24246 10. Approval of the 8/29/2024 Growth Management Coordination Special City Council p. 126 Meeting Minutes Hollie Huthman / Jace Cotton moved approval of the Consent Agenda in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Final Consideration of Ordinances 24219 1. An Ordinance Accepting the Donation of Real Property to the City of Bellingham p. 130 Parks and Recreation Department from David and Carol Robinson Lisa Anderson / Michael Lilliquist moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hammill, Stone, Huthman, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2024-09-023. 24222 2. An Ordinance Amending the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget - Amendment No. 14 p. 133 Hollie Huthman / Edwin H. "Skip" Williams moved approval for third and final reading. Upon motion, said bill was placed on final passage and approved by the following roll call vote: AYES: Hammill, Stone, Huthman, Williams, Anderson, Lilliquist, Cotton NAYS: (None) City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 6 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes  EXCUSED: (None) MOTION CARRIED 7-0 and was thereafter named Ordinance #2024-09-024. Public Comment Period City Council heard public comments from 33 individuals. To access the recording visit, Public Comment Period Recordings - City of Bellingham (cob.org). Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:53pm. Daniel Hammill, Council President ATTEST: Kelley Goetz, Deputy City Clerk APPROVED: 9/30/2024 City of Bellingham Regular City Council Meeting Page 7 of 7 9/16/2024 Minutes